| Within the Borders: |
In attacking a city or besieging a town, the minister of public works of the state examines critically the size and resources of that city. The guo-wei assigns the places, dividing the area according to the number of tu and xiao officers for the attack, and he sets them a time-limit, saying: 'Those who are first will be rewarded as the vanguard and those who hold back will be reprimanded, as being in the rear, and on a second reprimand will be dismissed.' They dig out subterranean passages and pile up fuel; when the fuel has been piled up they set fire to the beams. From the corps of sappers, on each side of the town, there are eighteen men. The soldiers from the corps of sappers, if they know how to fight fiercely, although they cannot capture the heads of any men in the ranks, are rewarded with one degree for each man; for every one man that is killed, freedom from taxes is given, and for every one man that cannot fight to the death, ten are torn to pieces by chariots. Those who make critical remarks are branded or their noses are sliced off under the city wall. The guo-wei, in assigning their various places to all, cause the several detachments to be followed by zhong-zu. The general erects a wooden platform, wherefrom, together with the Chief Supervisor of the state and the Chief Secretary, he watches (the battle). Those who enter first are rewarded as men of the vanguard, and those who enter last are treated as men of the rearguard; as to the corps of sappers, the utmost use is made of their few men; if these few men are not sufficient, they are supplemented by those who are anxious to receive a rank. |
